Poetically Put: Trees

Sometimes you can't see the forest for them. Happily, they also make for excellent poems. I've been struggling to memorize this ten line classic written by Sgt. Joyce Kilmer.

The good sergeant served in the 165th Infantry in the American Expeditionary Force. This poem was published as part of a collection in 1914, long before he went overseas. He died on July 30, 1918, near the town of Ourcy.

His poem...(written from poor memory, so excuse the occasional error)

Trees

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast.

A tree that looks to God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray.

A tree who may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair.

Upon whose bosom snow has lain
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

--Sgt. Joyce Kilmer